Her Dominant SEAL(13)

The day finally came where he had stood up in court and told his story about what he had witnessed. His dad and Judge Comey’s beloved son were each sentenced to fifteen years in prison.

A month after the trial, Drake had been pulled over by the sheriff for supposedly speeding. After he’d been pulled out of his car, he’d been beaten. Then Sheriff Delmar Arnold had thrown him into the back of his patrol car and taken him to Cubby’s Roadhouse, with his deputy following behind in Drake’s car. When they got out, there’d been this guy in the back parking lot who looked even worse than Drake.

Delmar pulled Drake out of the patrol car and asked the guy, “Son, is this the bastard who hit you in the head with the pool cue?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Drake didn’t say a word. What was the point? The sheriff and the deputy threw on some cuffs and proceeded to beat him to within an inch of his life. When they got Drake to the county jail, they gave him one call, and he prayed it would be one of his sisters who would answer the home phone. It was. It was Evie.

Trenda and Evie showed up at the county jail, but seeing as how Evie was fifteen, they wouldn’t let her back to visit. Trenda, at seventeen, had to raise hell for them to let her see him. Everybody in town knew that Wanda Avery had disowned Drake when he’d testified against her husband. Therefore, Trenda said she was the closest kin he had.

He really didn’t remember the visit, except for her yelling. Eventually, he ended up in the hospital. It was ten days later before he was in Judge Kirkland’s chambers.

The judge was younger than Comey. Drake remembered the brass trout he had on his desk. Drake had been too pissed off to be nervous. He knew he was going to end up in the same prison as his father and Frank Comey.

“Young man, have a seat.”

That was the first indication Drake had that things might not go the way he’d expected.

“I arranged to have you brought before my court. Judge Comey is not happy. He pulled every string in the book to try to get your case, even though everyone knows he has a grudge against you. Sometimes I hate small towns.” The man sat back in his chair and gave Drake a hard stare.

“Do you want to go to trial?” the judge asked.

“What’s the point?” Drake asked. He knew it would be his word against the sheriff and deputy.

“That’s my thinking as well,” Judge Kirkland said with a sigh. “I hear you have a football scholarship.”

“Had.” Every dream he’d ever had gone up in smoke the day he’d come home to find his dad in the basement. But he didn’t regret a damn thing. He knew without a doubt, if he hadn’t, Piper would be dead.

“Are you listening to me?” The judge had his elbows on his desk.

“I’m sorry, Sir, what did you say?”

“I’m giving you three choices, stand trial, enter a plea of guilty for aggravated assault, or join the military. I strongly suggest you choose door number three.”

It took Drake a long moment to realize there was a way out. That he might not end up at Pikeville.

“I was in the Navy. I have a friend who is a recruitment officer. I told him about you. He’s in Knoxville. If you make the right decision, he can be here today.”

The Navy.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“I’m just sorry this happened on my watch, Drake. So, I take it you’re choosing the Navy?”

“Yes Sir, thank you, Sir.”

“At least you know your lines.” The judge got up and came out from around his desk. He held out his hand, and Drake shook it.

“You’ll do good, kid. I have a feeling about you.”

***

Enough with trips down memory lane. He took out his cell phone and pressed the first number on his speed dial.

“Hey, Drake, everything okay? Do you need help?” Mason asked when he answered the phone. It was the middle of the fucking night, and his lieutenant’s first words were to ask if everything was okay and if he needed help. That’s why he loved the man.

“I need some leave,” Drake responded.

There was a long pause. He knew Mason was trying to figure out what was going on. At last, he said, “You’ve got it. Is everything all right?”

Mason Gault was closer than any brother could possibly be, and he had been lying to him for years. He hated himself.

“It’s complicated.”

“Does it have to do with Jasper Creek?”

Of course, Mason knew where he was really from, he had his personnel file. So even though he’d always said he was from Ferris Holler, he knew he actually came from Jasper Creek.

“Yeah,” Drake admitted. “How much do you know?”